Chapter 25

Electric Potential

In this chapter, electromagnetism will be linked to energy

The concept of potential energy is of great value in the study of electricity. Because

the electrostatic force is conservative, electrostatic phenomena can be conveniently

described in terms of an electric potential energy.

 When a test charge 𝑞𝑜 is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force:

𝐹Ԧ = 𝑞𝑜 𝐸
The force is conservative.

If the test charge is moved in the field by some external agent, the work done by

the field is the negative of the work done by the external agent.

𝑊𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 = −𝑊𝑏𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝒅𝒔 is an infinitesimal displacement vector that is oriented tangent to a path
through space.

The work done within the charge-field system by the electric field on
the charge is
𝑞𝑜

𝑑𝑊 = 𝐹Ԧ ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = 𝑞𝑜 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠

As this work is done by the field, the potential energy of the charge-field system
is changed by:

dW= 𝑑𝑈 = −𝑞𝑜 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
For a finite displacement of the charge from A to B, the change in potential

energy of the system is

∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = −𝑞𝑜 න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
𝐴

Because the force is conservative, the line integral does not

depend on the path taken by the charge.

Electric Potential

𝑈
The potential energy per unit charge , is the electric potential.
𝑞𝑜

• The potential energy is characteristic of the charge-field system.

• The potential is independent of the value of𝑞𝑜

• The potential has a value at every point in an electric field.

The electric potential is:

𝑈
V=
𝑞𝑜
The potential is a scalar quantity. Since energy is a scalar

As a charged particle moves in an electric field, it will experience a change in

Potential (potential difference).

𝐵
∆𝑈 −𝑞𝑜 ‫𝐸 𝐴׬‬ ∙ 𝑑𝑠
∆𝑉 = =
𝑞𝑜 𝑞𝑜

∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
𝐴
The difference in potential ∆ 𝑉 is the meaningful quantity.

We often take the value of the potential to be zero at some convenient point in
the field.

Electric potential is a scalar characteristic of an electric field, independent of any

charges that may be placed in the field.
𝑞𝑜+
For a potential energy to exist:

- there must be a system of two or more charges.

+

- if a charge is moving in an electric field.

Work and Electric Potential

Assume a charge moves in an electric field without any change in its kinetic energy.

The work performed on the charge is 𝑈

V= 𝑞
𝑜
𝑊 = ∆𝑈 = 𝑞∆𝑉
1J
SI unit of electric potential is a volt (V) 1V=
1C

𝐵
Equation V= − ‫ 𝑠𝑑 ∙ 𝐸 𝐴׬‬shows that the SI unit of electric field (N/C) can also be expressed in
volts per meter:

𝑁 𝑉
1 =1
𝐶 𝑚
The equations for electric potential between two points A and B can be simplified
if the electric field is uniform:

𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = ∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
𝐵
𝐴
∆𝑉 = −𝐸 න 𝑑𝑠
𝐴
s=d
∆𝑉 = −𝐸𝑑

The displacement points from A to B and is

parallel to the field lines.
 ∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = −𝐸𝑑

The negative sign indicates that the electric potential at point B is

lower than at point A.

Electric field lines always point in the direction of

decreasing electric potential.
 ∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = 𝑞𝑜 ∆𝑉 = −𝑞𝑜 𝐸. 𝑑

The negative sign indicates that when a positive test charge moves from

A to B, the charge-field system loses potential energy.

When a negative charge moves in the direction of the field.

from A to B, the charge-field system gains potential energy.

In order for a negative charge to move in the direction of the field, an

external agent must do positive work on the charge.

∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = 𝑞∆𝑉 = −(−𝑞)𝐸 ∙ 𝑑Ԧ
 ∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = 𝑞∆𝑉 = −𝑞𝐸 ∙ 𝑑Ԧ = −𝑞𝐸 𝑑𝑐𝑜𝑠180
Ԧ =−

When a negative charge moves in the opposite direction of the field from A

to B, the charge-field system loses potential energy.

 General Case
a charged particle that moves between A and B in a uniform electric field
such that the vector s is not parallel to the field lines as shown in figure

Through solid-line path(𝐴 → 𝐵). Through dashed-line path(𝐴 → 𝐶 → 𝐵).

𝐵 𝐵

∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = −𝐸 ∙ න 𝑑𝑠 = −𝐸 ∙ 𝑠Ԧ
𝐴 𝐴

∆𝑉 = −𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑 ∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐶 − 𝑉𝐴 + 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐶
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑠
𝑑 = 𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = −𝐸𝑑 + 0

∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 −𝑉𝐴 = −𝐸𝑑

𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐶 = 0 → 𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉𝐶
❖ Point B is at a lower potential than point A.

❖ Points B and C are at the same potential.

❖ All points in a plane perpendicular to a uniform electric field are at the same
electric potential.

❖ The name equipotential surface is given to any surface consisting of a continuous

distribution of points having the same electric potential.
𝑉1 = 100 𝑉

𝑉2 = 70 𝑉

𝑉3 = 50 𝑉

𝑉4 = 100 𝑉

𝑉5 = 50 𝑉

𝐴 𝐶 𝐵 𝐹 𝐷
The change in potential is negative.

The change in potential energy is negative.

The force and acceleration are in the direction of the field.

∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈 = 0
1
𝑚𝑣 2 − 0 + 𝑞∆𝑉 = 𝑂
2
∆𝐸 = 0
1 Where E is the mechanical energy 500J
𝑚𝑣 2 = −𝑞∆𝑉
2

−2𝑞∆𝑉 −2𝑞 −𝐸𝑑

𝑣= =
𝑚 𝑚
500J
2 × 1.6 × 10−19 × 8.0 × 104 × 0.50
= −27
= 2.8 × 106 𝑚Τ𝑠
1.67 × 10
The potential difference between points A and B will C
be: 𝑟𝐵 𝑟𝐵
𝑘𝑒 𝑞
𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = ∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = − න 2 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 =
𝑟
𝑟𝐴 𝑟𝐴

1 1
𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 −
𝑟𝐵 𝑟𝐴
Then the potential due to a point charge at some point r is

1 1
𝑉𝐶 − 𝑉∞ = 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 −
𝑟 ∞
𝑘𝑒 𝑞
𝑉𝑐 = We choose a reference potential of V= 0 at r = ∞
𝑟
The electric potential due to several point charges is the sum of the
potentials due to each individual charge.

𝑞𝑖
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑒 ෍
𝑟𝑖
𝑖

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞3
𝑉𝐴 = + +
𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟3

Scalar Sum
 Electric Potential Energy

The electric potential energy of a pair of point charges1 can be found as

follows:
𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑈 = 𝑊1 + 𝑊2 = 0 + =
𝑟12 𝑟12

If the system consists of more than two charged particles, we can obtain the total
potential energy of the system by calculating U for every pair of charges and summing
the terms algebraically.

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑈 =𝑊 =0+ + +
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23

Scalar Sum
 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2
𝑉𝑝 = +
𝑟1𝑝 𝑟2𝑝

9 × 109 × 2 × 10−6 9 × 109 × −6 × 10−6

𝑉𝑝 = + = −6.3 × 103 𝑉
4 5

∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝑝 − 𝑉∞ = 𝑉𝑝
 ∆𝑈 = 𝑞3 ∆𝑉 𝑉𝑖 = 0 𝑎𝑡 ∞
−6.3 × 103 𝑉

∆𝑈 = 𝑞3 𝑉𝑓 − 𝑉𝑖 = 3 × 10−6 𝑉𝑃 − 0

∆𝑈 = 3 × 10−6 × −6.3 × 103 = −1.89 × 10−2 𝐽

OR
𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2
∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = ( + + )- ( )
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23 𝑟12

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2
∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = 𝑞3 ( + ) = 𝑞3 ∆𝑉
𝑟 𝑟
The potential difference 𝑑𝑉 between two points a distance 𝑑𝑠 apart can be
expressed as

𝑑𝑉 = −𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠

If the electric field has only one component 𝐸𝑥 , then:

𝑑𝑉 = −𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = −𝐸𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = −
𝑑𝑥
Similar statements would apply to the y and z components.

In general, the electric potential is a function of all three dimensions. Given

𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) you can find 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝑧 as partial derivatives
𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = −
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑦 = −
𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑧 = −
𝑑𝑧

𝐸 = 𝐸𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐸𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝐸𝑧 𝑘෠
P: 25-39

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = − = − 5 − 6𝑥𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑦 = − = − −3𝑥 2 + 2𝑧 2
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑧 = − = − 4𝑦𝑧
𝑑𝑧

𝐸 = −5𝑖Ƹ − 5𝑗Ƹ + 0𝑘෠

𝑉
𝐸= 52 + 52 = 7.1
𝑚
P:25-36

𝑥=0→𝑥=1

𝑑𝑉 20 − 0
𝐸𝑥 = − = −𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = − = −20 𝑉Τ𝑐𝑚
𝑑𝑥 1−0

𝑥=1→𝑥=3

𝑑𝑉 20−20
𝐸𝑥 = − = −𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = − =0
𝑑𝑥 3−1

𝑥=3→𝑥=4

𝑑𝑉 0 − 20
𝐸𝑥 = − = −𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = − = − −20 = 20 𝑉 Τ𝑐𝑚
𝑑𝑥 4−3
 𝑬 and V for a Point Charge

𝑘𝑒 𝑞
𝑉𝑐 =
The electric field is radial. 𝑟

𝑑𝑉 𝑑 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 1
𝐸𝑟 = − = − = −𝑘𝑒 𝑞(− 2 )=
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑟 𝑟

𝑘𝑒 𝑞
𝐸𝑟 = 2
𝑟
The equipotential lines are everywhere perpendicular to the +
field lines.

∆𝑈 = 𝑞3 ∆𝑉
The potential at some point P due to a small charge
element 𝑑𝑞 is:

𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑞
𝑑𝑉 =
𝑟

To find the total potential, you need to integrate to include the

contributions from all the elements.

𝑑𝑞
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑒 න
𝑟
 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 −𝑞
𝑉𝑝 = + = + =0
𝑟+ 𝑟− 𝑎2 + 𝑦2 𝑎2 + 𝑦2

𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 −𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑥 − 𝑎 − 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑥 + 𝑎 −2𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎 𝑉=0
𝑉𝑅 = + = + = = 2
𝑟+ 𝑟− 𝑥+𝑎 𝑥−𝑎 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎2
 𝑥≫𝑎

−2𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎
𝑉𝑅 = 2
𝑥 − 𝑎2

−2𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎
𝑉𝑅 =
𝑥2
𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = −
𝑑𝑥

𝑑 −2𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎 𝑑 1 4𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎
𝐸𝑥 = − 2
= 2𝑘𝑒 𝑞𝑎 2
=−
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥3
 𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉=න = 𝑘𝑒 න = න 𝑑𝑞 =
𝑟 2
𝑎 +𝑥 2 2
𝑎 +𝑥 2 𝑎2 + 𝑥 2
𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉=
𝑎2 + 𝑥 2

𝑑𝑉 𝑑 1
𝐸𝑥 = − = −𝑘𝑒 𝑄 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑎2 + 𝑥 2
𝑑 2 2
−1 1 3
−2
= −𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑎 +𝑥 2 = −𝑘𝑒 𝑄 − 𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 1 2 1
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑥
2 2 2
𝑘𝑒 𝑄𝑥
𝐸𝑥 = 3
𝑎2 2
+𝑥 2
P:25-43

𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉= 𝑅=𝑎
𝑎2 + 𝑥 2

𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
∆𝑉 = 𝑉2𝑅 − 𝑉0 = −
𝑅2 + 2𝑅 2 𝑅 2 + 02

𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
∆𝑉 = − = −
𝑅2 + 4𝑅2 𝑅2 5𝑅2 𝑅2
R
𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
∆𝑉 = − X=0
𝑅 5 𝑅
X=2R

𝑘𝑒 𝑄 1 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
∆𝑉 = − 1 = −0.553
𝑅 5 𝑅
 Consider two points on the surface of the charged
conductor as shown.

𝐸 is always perpendicular to the displacement 𝑑𝑠.

∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = 0 equipotential surface
𝑞𝑖𝑛 = 0

Therefore, the potential difference between A and B is also zero.

V is constant everywhere on the surface of a charged conductor in equilibrium.

∆𝑉 = 0 between any two points on the surface Equipotential surface

𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = 0 → 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐵
Because the electric field is zero inside the conductor, we conclude that the

electric potential is constant everywhere inside the conductor and equal to the
value at the surface.

𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = −𝑞∆𝑉 = 0 → 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐵

Because of the constant value of the potential, no work is required to move a

charge from the interior of a charged conductor to its surface.

𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉𝐶 = 𝑟 > 𝑅(outside the sphere)
𝑟
.C

𝑊𝐴→𝐶 = 𝑊𝐵→𝐶 𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = 0

For a solid metal (conducting) sphere of radius R and total positive charge Q

𝒓 Electric field Electric potential

𝑟 < 𝑅 (inside the sphere) 0 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉=
𝑅
𝑟 = 𝑅 (at the surface) 𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝜎 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝐸= = 𝑉=
𝑅2 𝜖𝑜 𝑅
𝑟 > 𝑅(outside the sphere) 𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝐸= 2 𝑉=
𝑟 𝑟
 𝐸1
=? ?
𝐸2

The two spheres are separated by a distance much greater than the radius of
either sphere the field of one does not affect the charge distribution on the
other.

The conducting wire between them ensures that both spheres have the same electric potential.

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2
𝑉= =
𝑟1 𝑟2
 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝑟1
= =
𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑞2 𝑟2

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2
𝐸1 = 2 𝐸2 = 2
𝑟1 𝑟2

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1
𝐸1 𝑟1 2 𝑞1 𝑟2 2 𝑟1 𝑟2 2 𝑟2
= = = =
𝐸2 𝑘 𝑞
𝑒 2 𝑞2 𝑟1 2 𝑟2 𝑟1 2 𝑟1
𝑟2 2

𝐸1 𝑟2 If the conductor is non-spherical, then the electric field is large

= near convex points having small radii of curvature and reaches
𝐸2 𝑟1 very high values at sharp points.
 P:25-50

R=

a) 𝑟 = 10 𝑐𝑚 (𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒)

𝑞𝑖𝑛 = 0 → 𝐸 = 0
𝑘𝑒 𝑄 9 × 109 × 26 × 10−6
𝑉= = = 1.67 × 106 𝑉 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 = 𝑉𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
𝑅 0.14
b) 𝑟 = 20 𝑐𝑚 (𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒)

𝐾𝑒 𝑄 9 × 109 × 26 × 10−6 6
𝑉
𝐸 = 2 = = 5.58 × 10
𝑟 0.2 2 𝑚

𝑘𝑒 𝑄 9 × 109 × 26 × 10−6
𝑉= = = 1.17 × 106 𝑉
𝑟 0.2
 c) 𝑟 = 14 𝑐𝑚 (𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒)

𝐾𝑒 𝑄 9 × 109 × 26 × 10−6 6
𝑁
𝐸= 2 = = 11.9 × 10
𝑅 0.14 2 𝐶

𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉= = 1.67 × 106 𝑉 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 = 𝑉𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
𝑅
 P: 25-5
A uniform electric field of magnitude 325 V/m is directed in the negative y direction in Figure
P25.5. The coordinates of point A are (-0.20, -0.30) m, and those of point B are
(0.40, 0.50) m. Calculate the electric potential difference
𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 using the dashed-line path.

𝜃 = 180 C 𝑠2

0.5
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐶 − 𝑉𝐴 + 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐶 𝑠1

= −𝐸 ∙ 𝑠1 + −𝐸 ∙ 𝑠2 0.3

= −𝐸𝑠1 𝑐𝑜𝑠180 + −𝐸𝑠2 𝑐𝑜𝑠90

= 𝐸𝑠1 + 0

= 325 × 0.8 = 260 V

 P: 25-3
(a) Calculate the speed of a proton that is accelerated from rest through an electric
potential difference of 120 V. (b) Calculate the speed of an electron that is accelerated
through the same electric potential difference.

For proton

∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈 = 0

1
𝑚𝑣 2 − 0 + 𝑞∆𝑉 = 𝑂
2
1
𝑚𝑣 2 = −𝑞∆𝑉
2

−2𝑞∆𝑉 −2 × 1.6 × 10−19 × −120 5 𝑚 Τ𝑠

𝑣= = = 1.52 × 10
𝑚 1.67 × 10−27
 For electron

−2𝑞∆𝑉 −2 × −1.6 × 10−19 × +120

𝑣= =
𝑚 9.11 × 10−31

= 6.49 × 106 𝑚Τ𝑠

𝑷: 𝟐𝟓 − 𝟏𝟔

Two point charges 𝑞1 = 5.0 𝑛𝐶 and 𝑞2 = −3.0 𝑛𝐶 are separated by 35.0 cm.
(a) What is the electric potential at a point midway between the charges?
(b) What is the potential energy of the pair of charges?

𝑘𝑒 𝑞 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 9 × 109 × 5 × 10−9 9 × 109 × −3 × 10−9

𝑎) 𝑉𝑝 = + = −2
+
𝑟+ 𝑟− 17.5 × 10 17.5 × 10−2
= 103 𝑉

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 9 × 109 × 5 × 10−9 × −3 × 10−9 −7

𝑏) 𝑈 = = −2
= −3.86 × 10 𝐽
𝑟12 35 × 10
 P:25-17
Two particles, with charges of 20 𝑛𝐶 and −20 𝑛𝐶 , are placed at
the points with coordinates (0, 4.0 cm) and (0, - 4.00 cm) as shown 𝑞1
in Figure P25.17. A particle with charge 10 𝑛𝐶 is located at the origin.

(a) Find the electric potential energy of the configuration of the three fixed
charges. 𝑞2
p
3 cm
𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑈= + +
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23 𝑞3

9 × 109 × 20 × 10−9 × 10 × 10−9 9 × 109 × 20 × 10−9 × −20 × 10−9 9 × 109 × 10 × 10−9 × −20 × 10−9
𝑈= + +
0.04 0.08 0.04

𝑈 = 4.5 × 10−5 𝐽
(b) A fourth particle, with a mass of 2 × 10−13 𝑘𝑔 and a charge of 40 𝑛𝐶 , is
released from rest at the point (3.0 cm, 0). Find its speed after it has moved
freely to a very large distance away.
𝑞1

∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈 = 0
1
𝑚𝑣 2 − 0 + 𝑞∆𝑉 = 𝑂 𝑞2 𝑞4
2 𝑉𝑖 = 3 × 103 𝑉

1 1
𝑚𝑣 2 = −𝑞∆𝑉 𝑚𝑣 2 = −𝑞 𝑉∞ − 𝑉𝑖
2 2 𝑞3

2𝑞𝑉𝑖 2 × 40 × 10−9 × 3 × 103 4 𝑚 Τ𝑠 𝑉𝑖 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 +𝑉3 = 3 × 103 𝑉

𝑣= = = 3.46 × 10
𝑚 2 × 10−13
 (Review)
Chapter 25
Electric Potential
The work done within the charge-field system by the electric field to move the charge an
infinitesimal displacement is:

W=𝐹Ԧ ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = 𝑞𝑜 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠

As this work is done by the field, the potential energy of

the charge-field system is changed by:

d𝑊 = 𝑑𝑈 = 𝑈𝐵 − 𝑈𝐴 = −𝑞𝑜 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠

𝑊 = ∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝐵 − 𝑈𝐴 = −𝑞𝑜 න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
Electric Potential

𝑈
V=
𝑞𝑜

As a charged particle moves in an electric field, it will experience a change in

potential.

∆𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
𝐴
Potential difference in a uniform electric field

∆𝑉 = −𝐸 ∙ 𝑑Ԧ
The negative sign indicates that the electric potential at point B is
lower than at point A.

Electric field lines always point in the direction of decreasing electric

potential.

∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 = 𝑞𝑜 ∆𝑉 = −𝑞𝑜 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑Ԧ

The negative sign indicates that when a positive test charge moves from A to B, the charge-field

system loses potential energy.

General Case

Through solid-line path(𝐴 → 𝐵). Through dashed-line path(𝐴 → 𝐶 → 𝐵).

∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 −𝑉𝐴 = −𝐸𝑑 ∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐶 − 𝑉𝐴 + 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐶

= −𝐸𝑑 + 0

= −𝐸𝑑

❖ All points in a plane perpendicular to a uniform electric field are at the

same electric potential equipotential surface
Motion of a particle in a uniform field

∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈 = 0

1 1
𝑚𝑣𝑓 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2 + 𝑞∆𝑉 = 𝑂
2
2 2
Electric potential and potential difference due to a point charge
c

1 1
𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑞 − C
𝑟𝐵 𝑟𝐴

𝑘𝑒 𝑞
𝑉𝑐 =
𝑟𝑐 We choose a reference potential of V= 0 at r = ∞
The electric potential due to several point charges is the
sum of the potentials due to each individual charge.

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞3
𝑉𝐴 = + +
𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟3

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑈= + +
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23
The electric potential energy of a pair of point charges1
can be found as follows:

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑈=
𝑟12
If the system consists of more than two charged particles, we can obtain the total
potential energy of the system by calculating U for every pair of charges and summing
the terms algebraically.

𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑘𝑒 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑘𝑒 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑈= + +
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23

Scalar Sum
Obtaining the value of the electric field 𝑬 from the electric potential

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = −
𝑑𝑥
𝑬 and V for a Point Charge

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑦 = − 𝑑𝑉
𝑑𝑦 𝐸𝑟 = −
𝑑𝑟

𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑧 = −
𝑑𝑧

𝐸 = 𝐸𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐸𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝐸𝑧 𝑘෠
 𝑑𝑞
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑒 න
𝑟

𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉=
𝑎2 + 𝑥 2
 Electric potential is constant everywhere inside the conductor and equal to the
value at the surface.

𝑘𝑒 𝑄 • C
𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝐵 =
𝑅
𝑘𝑒 𝑄
𝑉𝐶 =
𝑟
Because of the constant value of the potential, no work is required to move a charge from

the interior of a charged conductor to its surface.

𝑊𝐴→𝐶 = 𝑊𝐵→𝐶 𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = 0

Equation of motion ( at constant acceleration)

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡
1 2
∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎∆𝑥